Super Bowl Preview: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

Betting Lines

• Spread: Seahawks -4.5
• Total: 45.5
• Moneyline: Seattle -230 | New England +190

Oddsmakers favor Seattle’s explosiveness, but the moderate spread reflects respect for New England’s discipline and defensive consistency.

Resume Check

Seattle Seahawks (14–3, NFC #1 Seed)

Seattle has looked unstoppable in January. They dismantled San Francisco 41–6 in the NFC Championship and followed it with a composed 31–27 win over the Rams. Led by Sam Darnold’s career year, the Seahawks have averaged over 36 points per game in the postseason. Their defense has also risen to the moment, forcing turnovers and controlling field position.

New England Patriots (14–3, AFC #2 Seed)

The Patriots’ playoff run has been built on defense and situational excellence. They edged Denver 10–7, beat Houston 28–16, and held the Chargers to just three points in a 16–3 win. Drake Maye has been efficient rather than flashy, while the defense has allowed just 26 total points in three playoff games.

Players to Watch

Seahawks

• Sam Darnold (QB): 4,048 yards, 25 TD
• Kenneth Walker III (RB): 1,027 rushing yards
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR): 1,793 yards, 10 TD
• Devon Witherspoon (CB): Shutdown corner, key playmaker

Darnold’s health is the biggest storyline. If he is limited, Seattle’s offensive approach could change significantly.

Patriots

• Drake Maye (QB): 4,394 yards, 31 TD
• Stefon Diggs (WR): 1,013 yards
• Trey Henderson (RB): 911 rushing yards
• Christian Gonzalez (CB): Elite cover corner

How Seattle Wins

Seattle wins by playing fast and forcing New England out of its comfort zone. If Darnold is healthy, the Seahawks can stretch the field with Smith-Njigba while using Walker to keep the Patriots’ pass rush honest.

Defensively, Seattle must pressure Maye early and prevent sustained drives. Winning the turnover battle and scoring early are critical to neutralizing New England’s methodical style.

How New England Wins

The Patriots’ path to victory lies in controlling tempo. Long, clock-eating drives, strong red-zone defense, and disciplined coverage can frustrate Seattle’s offense.

If Maye protects the football and Diggs finds space against Seattle’s secondary, New England can keep this game within reach. Their defense must once again dominate on third down and in the red zone.

Prediction

Both teams enter playing their best football, but the two-week layoff adds an element of uncertainty, especially for rosters without recent Super Bowl experience. Expect a defensive-minded game early, with both teams relying on their top units.

However, Seattle’s offense is more versatile and explosive. Their ability to hurt opponents through both the air and on the ground has been on full display throughout the playoffs, while New England has struggled to score consistently at times.

That balance gives the Seahawks the edge.

Prediction: Seahawks 24, Patriots 10

Seattle captures its first Super Bowl title since Super Bowl XLVIII.